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Why Use A VPN?

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A VPN is invaluable when using public Wi-Fi, but it’s also smart to protect your privacy at home.... [+] (photo: Getty)

Getty

Nearly every week there is a news story about a major brand or business getting hacked. Privacy, security, and what happens with your data is often, or should be, top of mind. If you do not like the way Google, Amazon, Facebook, and others track your every move online (and arguably offline, too), then here’s why you should be using a VPN (virtual private network).

As discussed in other recent posts on what a VPN is and how it works, I wanted to list a few more reasons why you want to consider using a VPN service. Privacy is obviously at the top of the list, but a VPN can protect it in various ways. From services like PureVPNto InvinciBull VPN, there are many options to choose from. Here are some reasons that people use free and paid VPN services:

A VPN Helps You Maintain Your Right To Privacy

A VPN will thwart attempts by search engines, advertisers, government entities (no conspiracy theory in that one), your internet service provider (ISP), and even basic websites that exist to sell your data. A VPN will keep your Web browsing private. As I explained in How Does A VPN Work, in some countries any VPN use is illegal, so know the law.

Even beyond country-specific restrictions, you may find that your office, your college or school, or even your public library may restrict certain sites or words. I’m not recommending you break the rules, but there are times that the rules infringe on common sense. For example, let’s say you have an illness involving a part of your body. Some basic terms are blocked because they can lead to inappropriate images and videos. However, you may still need to research a topic with a forbidden term.

Some people want to shield their Web activity from their employer, so at work, they use a VPN. (Note: Companies can still figure out what you are doing with key loggers—a pretty standard corporate method—as well as seeing that your browsing history keeps showing the same IP address.)

Better Protections On Public WiFi Use

You simply do not know what your local cafe or even the large coffee houses have for internet security. Same goes for hotels and airports. A VPN gives you a layer of security in public locations.

Access All The Netflix Content

Access full streaming content from anywhere. To be clear, I do not recommend piracy, but there are reported restrictions on Netflix users in different locations (usually outside the United States) where the content licensing varies. From everything I have read, Netflix is on top of these uses, but subscribers keep trying to get to content that is not allowed in a particular place. There are other streaming examples that are not illegal that you may prefer to work around.

VPN Provides Better Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Phone Calls

Think Skype or Google Hangouts: VOIP, or Voice-over-IP, is a free or inexpensive way to call people. It may seem like a rare activity, but like any internet service, it can be hacked. A VPN can prevent people from tracking and intercepting your phone conversations.

Google Is Watching All Your Digital Moves

Have you ever noticed that if you search for a term that you will occasionally see advertisements for that same term or product later? I love Google’s free services, but they know an awful lot about me—and you.

Bottom line, a VPN can help you hide your Web tracks, even from your ISP, even from Google. The few reasons I listed here are just a sliver of why you might want to start using a VPN. It is essential today to take your internet security seriously. In the past, VPNs had a reputation that only people who had something to hide used them, but no more. Every citizen, who believes in privacy, should be considering a VPN as a normal way to connect to the internet.

I'm a Tech and Productivity guy. Do you have #lifehacks, #DIYtips, #HowTO ideas? Click the little "House" icon below to get to my website where you can submit ideas (via

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I'm a Tech and Productivity guy. Do you have #lifehacks, #DIYtips, #HowTO ideas? Click the little "House" icon below to get to my website where you can submit ideas (via a Google spreadsheet). I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for reading and connecting. Sign up for my Tech Tips email. You can find me at the LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter link buttons, too. I still also cover a bit of my old beat on 3D printing, hardware, software, and mobile apps, as well.